a Vito Lapiccola film

Bios and Profiles

Actors:

A graduate of Yale University, this classically-trained actor is a lifetime member of the Actor's Studio and recently starred in the Actor's Studio West production of Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, directed by Barbara Bain. He also recently originated the role of Claude in Cheyenne, written by Liz Tuccillo (Sex in the City, He's Just Not That Into You). Since moving to Los Angeles with his wife, Rita, and her sixteen-pound cat, Erik has worked extensively in television. Credits include appearances on CSI, Charmed, Nash Bridges, V.I.P., and Lyon's Den. He also played the role of Charles Manson in the ABC movie of the week The Beach Boys: An American Family. A voiceover artist and a nationally touring standup comedy headliner, Erik performs at clubs and colleges everywhere. He recently entertained our troops overseas in Japan and South Korea.

April Wade - "Heather"

After working extensively in regional and community theatre in Orange and Long Beach Counties, April Wade attended Chapman University to obtain a BFA in Theatre/Film. She quickly opened her own acting studio in Los Angeles: Actors Creative Workshop. Finding her way in independent cinema, April Wade has reached film festival screens and video shelves within a few short years. After starring in numerous projects, she has turned her attention towards producing. April formed Women on Top Productions and began principal photography on their first feature, Phoenix, in September 2006.
Director:

Vito Lapiccola

Vito studied Film and Video at Columbia College in Chicago, where he wrote, produced, and directed the acclaimed student film Chigger and the Man, which he adapted from a short story by Keith Giffen. After graduating, he appeared in a dozen stage plays as well as the feature horror film Short Cut Road before moving to Los Angeles to pursue a filmmaking career. Under My Skin is his professional directing debut.

Writer:
Thomas Sklar-Blake
Originally from Chicago,Thomas Sklar-Blake studied writing at Pomona College in Los Angeles and wrote in New York for theaters such as The Circle in the Square before returning to the Midwest to work on a number of stage and television projects. Under My Skin is his first professional screenplay. He is currently working on a feature length screenplay for his original story, 10 Minutes Ago Tami.

Music:
Michael Collins
Michael Collins is a songwriter/musician in Los Angeles, CA. He was born in Hillsboro, IL and attended college at Illinois State University in Normal, IL. Michael met Vito and Tom nine years ago at his first job in Chicago as a video store clerk. He is currently writing music for a number of projects, including his band, The Punch Drunks. He would also like to send his love to his family and his lovely wife, Susan.

Beef Tips On Rice Productions:
Under My Skin is the third release from Beef Tips On Rice Productions, a small production company formed in Los Angeles by Steve Gelder. BTOR's first release in 2004, Arc, was Gelder's directorial debut and was screened at 25 festivals around the world, winning ten awards. The second Beef Tips On Rice Production, Checking In, also directed by Gelder, was widely acclaimed on the festival circuit. Joe Braza worked on both films, Arc and Checking In, as an Assistant Director. He is a producer on Under My Skin. On working with the Berry brothers and 747 Productions, Steve says: "I started my own production company because I know I can get things done and will, where a lot of 'producers' in Hollywood are all talk. After being introduced to Greg and Doug by director Vito Lapiccola, I could see these guys were also on board to make things happen. As quickly as we have been able to put Under My Skin together and with the quality of film that we now have, I think we've all proven ourselves nicely. I look forward to working on larger projects with them in the future."

747 Productions:
Under My Skin is the first release from 747 Productions, a new production company formed in Los Angeles by Gregory E. Berry and Douglas Berry. Greg and Doug expressed their enthusiasm in working with Beef Tips On Rice Productions by saying, "Because of their experience and knowledge of the industry, we were very thankful to get Steve Gelder and Joe Braza and Beef Tips On Rice Productions for this film. For our first production, we couldn't have asked for a better cast and crew and look forward to working with them all again."

Director

Vito Lapiccola

Writer

Thomas Sklar-Blake

Cast

Erik Passoja ... James

April Wade ... Heather

Producers

Douglas Berry .... executive producer

Gregory E. Berry .... executive producer

Joe Braza .... producer

Steve Gelder .... producer

Mitchell M. Huskey .... associate producer

Doug James .... associate producer

Original Music by

Michael Collins

Cinematography by

Alexandre Lehmann (as Alex Lehmann)

Edited by

Steve Gelder

Makeup Department

Felvi Hernando .... assistant makeup artist
Sharon Phillon .... key makeup artist

Sound Department

Jason Fyrberg .... sound mixer
Jason Fyrberg .... sound re-recording mixer

Camera and Electrical Department

Matt Ardine .... gaffer
Matt Ardine .... grip

Other Crew

Sam Miller .... production assistant